Tokyo -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Norio Ohga , the former president and chairman of Sony Corporation who helped to develop the compact disc , died Saturday of multiple organ failure , the company said . He was 81 .

Ohga worked for what is now Sony as a consultant and adviser while still a music student in Tokyo , before joining the company full time in 1959 .

He rose to the ranks of chairman and president and is credited with driving the company 's growth in movies , video games and music .

Ohga saw the potential of the compact disc early and spearheaded Sony 's efforts in that area , the company said .

His training as a musician led him to push for a 12-centimeter format , providing enough storage to allow listeners to hear all of Ludwig van Beethoven 's Ninth Symphony without interruption , according to Sony . Those specifications are still in use today .

The company sold the world 's first CD in 1982 and within five years , CD sales overtook LP record sales in Japan .

Ohga is also credited with launching Sony 's game business and was head of Sony when it bought Columbia Pictures in 1989 .

He was a senior adviser to Sony at the time of his death .

`` By redefining Sony as a company encompassing both hardware and software , Ohga-san succeeded where other Japanese companies failed . It is no exaggeration to attribute Sony 's evolution beyond audio and video products into music , movies and games , and subsequent transformation into a global entertainment leader to Ohga-san 's foresight and vision , '' Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer said in a statement .

`` I offer my deepest condolences on his passing and pray that he may rest in peace . ''

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Ohga is credited with helping to develop the compact disc

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He led the company 's growth in music , games and movies

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Ohga died of multiple organ failure at 81